This weekend saw Reuben return to the track for Round 2 of the NORA92 British Cup, held at the famously demanding and sandy FatCat Moto Parc circuit. With soaring temperatures, deep sand, and a rough, ever-changing surface, it was a real test of fitness, focus, and resilience. Read how the weekend went for Reuben below.
This weekend we headed to FatCat Moto Parc to race round 2 of the NORA92 British Cup. I was so excited as I like the track at FatCat and I was eager to better my results from Landrake where I struggled. Saturday morning bright and early we started with a track walk with Coach Joe Clayton and already we could feel the temperature rising. It was set to be a hot day and I was eager to get going.
Free practice and qualifying came and I started out steady trying to get a feel for the track looking for the best lines. I did feel comfortable and was battling with some very fast riders and I qualified 33rd.
Race 1 – The track was drying out and the day was getting hotter. It was so hot! The gate dropped, I didn’t get a great start and was near the back into the first corner. I think about 8 riders went down infront of me and I had nowhere to go. I was stuck trying to get passed and this held me up. When I finally got going I had a chase on to get back up with the riders and ended up finishing 33rd.
Race 2 – The track was so rough and dry and we were on the gate ready. I knew I had to get a good start. The gate dropped and I went putting my all in to not getting shoved back. I got a decent start to get through the first corner and out in the middle I lost a few places coming down the first straight. I knew I had this, I kept pushing, the track was so rough and temperatures where high but I kept going and felt more confident each lap. I got into a good rhythm using all the information Coach Joe had told me and it payed off finishing 24th.
Race 3 – Sunday morning after free practice Coach Joe made some adjustments to my bike. It was another hot day and the track had a lot more water down. After Saturday I was hoping the track would ride a lot better and it did. I got a great start and quickly got into a nice rhythm. I felt I’d learnt a lot from Joe and was standing where I needed to and my positioning was loads better, felt much more comfortable on the bike and I raced hard to a 26th place finish.
Race 4 – I’d set myself a target, this was to beat my previous best of the weekend which was 24th. We set off and what a start for lap 1. I was in 24th and I could see the next few riders. I pushed hard and got passed a few, I was making a charge when I had a little wobble and took a corner too wide. Then there were 3 of us in a battle swapping positions back and forth it was a great race! I finished 24th.
Finishing 27th overall for the weekend I felt this was a great result.
Had a great weekend and enjoyed every second. I’m looking forward to Round 3. I am feeling very lucky and proud to be team NORA CRS.
